Lock



May 31, 1932.

J. A. SHAFER LOCK Filed May 14, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnoemto'zz y 1932- J. A. SHAFER 1,860,369

LOCK

Filed May 14, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Swuentoz May 31, 1932. I SHAFER 1,860,369

LOCK

Filed May 14,1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 avwcmtoz kid/106's I oped for holding closed the discharge doors of Patented May 31, 1932 entree raises a. snarnn, or EAST cnnvntaivnonio, nss eivon T0 riATionAL MALLEABLE &. STEEL GASTENGS corarnnY. 9F oni vntenn, OHIO, A oonronarron or. oHIoj;

Application filed May 14:,

This invention relates to looks and more particularly to a lock which has been develrailwa ho er cars. Such locks must oerform their functions with unfailing reliahil IDOClIfiCatIOII'ShOWD in-Fig. 10'.

ity under varying'conditions oi 'service'and should at the same time he capable of conom ical manufacture. A lock of this character is dlsclosed in my .copending application Se.

rial No. 280,668, filed Ma as, 1928.; While the lock shown in said application effectively carries out its intended functions, mypresent invention provides certain i improvements whereby locks of this nature may he s mplified in construction and theirgoperation further facilitated. One of the features "otthe invention is the provision of a locking mech- 7 ing mechanism etiective in action and at the am-e timecompact in organization and re.- duced in weight. Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described and claimed.

.In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticside elevation of a hopper car having locking mechanism embodying the invention applied thereto. 1

Fig. 2 is a central transverse section of the car shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation partly in section of said locking mechanism. Fig. a is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on line IVFV oi Fig. 3. I i Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View on V-V oi 'Fig. 3. a i

Fig. .6 is a transverse sectional view similine lar to Fig." 5 but showing parts of the locking mechanism in a different position.

7 Figs. 7 and 7 are detail views onan enlarged scale of the latch pawl. I 3 Fig. 8 is an enlarged scale detailrear view of the latch pawl controlling element.

Fig.- 9 is aview in side-elevation an'don an enlarged'scale showing the mechanism in tobe passed throu h 1929. Serial No. 362,907.

one tooth.

stares ismm tim Fig. 510is ai'transverse sectional view show-f wimodified form of locking mechanism.

Fig. ll' is a view in side elevation ofthe Fig. l2 is aview similar to Fig. 11 but showing the ,p'artsin a different position, and

FigWlB. is a vertical sectional view online XIII-*Xlll-of Fig. 10. 1

Referring to Figl there is illustrated a "hoppei'car, thehoppers 5 of which are closed by discharge doors G'eXtending transversely of the car. The (.lOOI'SIEjl'B arranged in pairs, the two doors of each pair-be ng connected by a door spreader 7 .attheir lower edges, which spreader is engaged by locks 8 at eitherend thereof for holding the doors tightly closed The. lock shown for illustrating-the prin ciples of the invention comprises a two-part housing. with a latch .10 slidably mounted therein. The latch is engageable with a suit- 1 able flange l'l of the door spreader 7, said flange serving as a'keeper'. The flange may" conveniently be formeditoylie at an acute angle to-the plane of the door, as shown in I Fig. 3, butithis' is not essential. A plate 9 may, if desired, be'securedto the hopper'wall 5, saidplate having aflangedorskirt portion 9. extending beyond said wall and covering the adj acent ed 'e portion of the door'6'whe n the'latter is in 'closedposition; as indicated in Fig. 3 thus aiding in' preventing the en: trance of dirt and moisture between the door and the hopper andalso shieldingsjaid door. The inner housing member .12 is provided with three bosses 13 adapted to space the housing from the side wallshfrthe hopper body; and the outerhousing member 14; may have bosses 15 in alignment'with said bosses l3 and adapted tofit into corresponding re?- cesses 16in the housing member 12, as indicated inv Figs. 5 and 6. I Rivets 17 are adapted her Hand bosses 13 tosecure the housing: to

18 extending into a'recess 19 injth-inner housing member-"12; arivet '20 being passed through said boss and through the member 12 theiouter housing mem-' as shown in Fig.4, and thereby securing the housing members together. In this'way, after the lockingmechanism has been assembled in the housing members, the latter maybefas-i tened together by said rivet 20, and the parts shipped in assembled relationi forzapplica tionas a unit to the car; such application being readily effected through the rivets the car; may thus be avoided.

The latch 10 comprises a longitudinalweb V housing member 14. The locking pawl29 1's shown pivotally mounted on a boss-32 proportion 21Ihaving oppositely projecting bosses or trunnions 22, 23,'whichjare'received in guideways 24, 25 in the inner and enter 7 housing members respectively. -The trunnions are preferably elongated as shown to afford extended conta'ctw'iththe guide-ways,

, J Referring to Fig-r 3, it willbe seen thatthe left side 'oftheupper trunnions 22 and the right side of the lower trunnions 23 are parallel to the direction ofmoveme'ntof thelatchf in the guideways of the'liousing. Thesefaces of the trunnions are the on'es --which bear against the guideways and resist-the stresses of use tending to open the doorsfwhen the:

" 24, 25 ispreferably cur vedat its upper end parts are in locked relation. The iguideway V in order to increase the gather and permit preliminary catching of the latch with the 7 door farther from its tightly closed position thanwOuld be possible with straight guidesi' ways.

= It will be notedithat the operative face of the latch where it engages the door spreader as indicated at 26, llesatan acute angle to the direction of movement ofthe latch in the tl 1e latch' downwardly,- thus using the lock guides'2 l, 25.f By this arrangement, when the door approaches closed"p os1t1on,.but 1s stillopen a substant al distance theflange as a wedging means forcompletely closing the/door; The latch and keeper'arefformed .to provide an extended bearing to insurean' effective engagement when the door locked. The lowerend of the latch 10 may conveniently be formed on a curve such that'as the door is closed the'latch will be lifted automatically'by engagement with the, flange 11 with the curved lower edger It is desirable to provide suitable means whereby the latch 'lO lmay be forcibly retracted from locking I position to'release the-door and forcibly moved to locking positionywhereby the door maybe forced to fully closed position using the lock parts in the operation.

the latch is formed with a suitable apertured extension 27 and the innerhousing member l2is provided with a number of ledges 28 7 whereby a'pinch bar such as is ordinarily Carried by operators may be introduced As shown;

through the extension and into engagement with'the ledges to force the latch toor from been hereinbefore described in conjunction with the latch 10 are disclosed in my co position I provide on said latcha pawl 29 1 having teeth30 and movable to bring said teeth into and out of engagement with a se rics of projections orteeth 31 on the outerv jecting-from. the latch 10; said boss passing through an opening '33 in said pawl; vvThe latter, "in addition to being turnablelabout the axis of the 'boss 32 is also swingable about an axis right angles'to the axis o-fthe boss; movement of'thepawl about'this latter axis being adapted to effect the engagement r anddisengagement offlthe teeth 3O witlr respect to the teeth 31. pawl 29 is in engagement with teeth 31', therewhile in Fig; 6 the .pawl h asbeen swung about a vertical aXis at right angles to the axis of bein thus unlocked. To" ermitsuch s win y C v C" rear faces 35, extending at an angle to Thus, in Fig. 5 am "the boss, the teeth of said'pawl being now disengaged from teeth3l, and the latch 10 ing of the .pawl29' the latter is formed with each other, and the wallsof opening 33 are provided with inclinedportions as indicated at 36, 37, sothat when ithe pawl isin the position shown in Fig. 5', with its rear face 34 contacting the shouldered portion '38 of latch 10 at the base of the boss '32, the wall portions 36, S'F'eXtend atan angle to said boss. The wall of said opening 33 may also be provided with-portions 39, 40 extending at an tions 39, 40' extending. parallel to the boss 32 angle to said inclined wallportions, the p01! v and engaging the $311185 as shown in -FigJ5 ,v

when the pawl 29- is engaged with theteethf When the pawl 29is turned intothepo' sition shown in Fig." 6, wherein its teeth have been disengaged from teeth 31 the-rear face 35 of said pawl contacts with the aforesaid shoulderedportion 38 of latch 10.

The operationof the locking pawl 29 is 7 controlled by a manually operable member ll pivotallymounted on the boss 32and positioned acent said pawl. 'The member 41' and pawl 29 are held in assembled relation on boss 32 by Washer 42 and rivet 43,- the latter passing through said:washer and'through the boss 32 as shown in Figs. -5 and 6. pawl-controlling member ll includes a counterwe'ighted portionlA to facilitate its operation, said "portion also having an inclined surfacell for a purpose which will later Said 7 appear.- Also, said vpawlcontrolling member is provided on its rear face with-an inclined surface 45 terminating in a lug 46.,

bylocking the latch 10 against movement; 9

The front face oftheawl is likewise pro vided with an incline surface 47. it Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 6, the latch retracted, and the hopper door open, upon closing the door the latch may be moved downwardly and englaged with the flange 11 f spreader'i, as siown in. Fig. 3, wedging' the door tightly against the hopper. The counter-weighted portion 44 of the pawl controllingmember 41 ter inwardly into engagement with the teeth 1 31, and the forcing of said pawl into suchengagement is further assisted by inclined surface 44 of counterweight 44E which'comes into engagement with and acts upon surfaces 49 and 490i said pawl. When-the'inember' 41 reaches the position shown Figs. 3 and 5 the pawl 29 is firmly and fully meshedwith teeth 31 and the'l'atch is efiectively locked against retraction. It may be noted that the edge of the member 41'now engages a ledge 51 projecting from the latch 10. As long as said member remains in theposition shown in Fig. 5 it locks the-pawl 29 against disengagement from the teeth 31 If the latch 10 should be in such position that the teeth 30 of pawl 29'are not properly aligned with the spaces between the teeth 31, so that the pawl cannot be meshed with said teeth, the operator canlift said pawl with his fingers, turning it about the'axisof the boss 32, and bringing it into proper relation to said teeth 31; and said pawlcan then be engaged with said teeth by operation of member 41 as aforesaid. Thus, if the pawl; 29 is not in proper relation to teeth 31,-for

being meshed with the same, it is unnecessary to shift the latch from its 0 erated position to bringsaid pawl into said re ati-onship,but such may insteadbe efiected by simpiy turning the pawl the appropriate amount about the boss 32. This'adjustment of the pawl may be eif'ected withconvenien-ce and facility, said pawl being readily accessible for 'manipulation by the operator and the teeth of said pawl as well as the cooperating teeth 31 being plainly visible. In Fig.9 the mechanism is shown in locking position with the pawl ad vanced one tooth beyond its normal (Fig. 3) position. To prevent adjustment of the pawl about the boss 32 to such an extent that it 6. During this movement thelug 46 engages the inclined surface 47 of said pawl and forces the teeth .30 out ofengagement with teeth The latch 'now fre'ejtobe' retracted to unlock: the hopper door. I

' To facilitateopening of the 'd-cor in case raised, as for example ifthe door should be frozen shut; I have provided on the lower portion of housing member 14-- a lug 53. This 1 lug provides -a fulcrum for a pinch: bar, the end of which maybear against *thesurface 5 at the spreader flange '11, whereby the doorinay be readily pried open.

In Figs.,1013 I have shown a modified form of my invention whereinthe locking pawl maybe. slid instead ot'tiit'ed into and out o tengagement with the teeth311- fAs shown in the'viewsreferred to, the pawl 29 is provided with elongated opening 33 through which passes the boss or trunnion 32 on the latch 10. Also, said-pawlis formed withshoulders 55, 56 adapted to be engaged by a laterally projecting arcuatelextension 57 on the latcl1 pawlcontrolling member 41 The arcuatesnri'ace of'the extension 57 aforesaid is eccentric with respect to the longitudinalcentral aXisof the boss 32, as the result of which. it will be seen that turning ofthe or control member-41 about saidboss will result in sliding movement of the pawl 29'. With the. parts shown in Figs. 10 and'llfln order to disengage the pawl 29 from the' teeth 81', the member 41" is thrown to the rightthrough 180 during which movement the extension 57 wiil corneinto engagement with the pawl sho'ulderfiti and'shift saidpawl to therig t, thereby disengaging its teeth from the'teeth' 31 on the housing member 14. The parts are now in'the position'shownin Fig. 120% lock the mechanism the member 41 is thrown 180 to the left from its Fig."l2-position to that shown in Fig; '11 the extension 57 acting upon the shoulder to forcethe pawl into engagement with teeth 31' aforesa id. Should the Iatch'be in suchpositionithat the pawl teeth 30 are not in proper meshing rela tion withv teeth 31, the pawl may be readily turned about the boss 32 to bring its teeth into alignment with the spaces-between teeth. .31 in the same manner as "has been previously pointed out in connection with the pawl29z I 'Theteri ns'and expressions which Iliay'e employed are usedas terms of'description and not of li-in1tat1on,and'I have no intention in Y the use oiisuch terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown, and described or portions thereoflbut recognize that arious structural modifications are possible within the scope ofthe inventionjclaimed.-

What Iclaiin is: f

1. In a'lock for the discharge door of a hopper car, a latch for locking said door,

means: comprising interenga 'eable'elements for locking said latch and means whereby it said elements are out of proper relationior 'withont shifting the latch "from said posie lockingengagement in givenpositionof said latch-said relation mayrbeestablished tion.

2. In alock for the discharge door of j hopper car,'a latch forlocking said door,

means for locking said latch, said means com-t prising a movable element and amember en'- gageablethereby, andmeans whereby said- 7 10' element may be adjusted to proper position for engagement with said member independently of said latch.

3.,In a lock forthe discharge door of a hopper car, alatch for locking saiddoor, a 15 movable member forflocking said latch, a retam ng element for} retaining sa d movable member 1n locking position, and meanswhereby shifting: of said retaining elementcausesmovement of said locking member. s I

4. Ina lock for the discharge door of a l *hopper car, a latch for locking'said door, a

toothed element movable withsaid' latch, a

second toothed element engageable by the first mentioned element fol-locking said latch,

and means whereby relative adjustment of said elements to bring the teeth thereof into proper relation for interengagement may be 'efiected for a givenposition of said latch without shiftingthe latch from said position. 5.1n aloclcfor thedischarge door of a hopper car, a latch tor locking said door, an element movable with said latch, a second element 'engageable by the first mentioned element upon movement thereof in a given dHeCtlOD'fOI locking said latch, and means whereby said first mentioned element may be shifted'in a difierent'direction for estab 1 lishing proper inte'rengaging relationship be tween said elements.

v6. Ina lock for the discharge door "of a hopper car, a latch for locking said door', an

V 1 element movable with-said latch, an element engageable by the first mentioned element 'for locking said latch, said first mentioned element being shiftable in one direction to establish proper engaging relationship with the second mentionedelement and being shiftable in adifiere nt direction to engage said element. H

1 7. In; a lock for the discharge door of a hopper car, a latch for lockingsaid door, a

' r 7 said position;

toothed pawl pivotally carried by said latch, a toothedelement engageable by said pawl,

and means-wherebywhen said-pawl and ele- V ment areiout of .engagingrelation in a given position of the latch, such relation maybe established ivithoutflshifting the latch from an element engageable by said pawlfor looking said latch, said pawl being shiftableabont itspivot in one direction for establishing an engageable relationwith said element, and

8. In alock for the discliarge'door of a hopper car, a latch for locking said door, a. toothed pawl pivotally carried by said latch,

beingshittable',abontitsfpivot in another di' rection for engaging said element. a I

9. 'In a lochfor the dischrge door hopper car, a latch'for ldckingsaid 'door, a

pawl carriedjloy said. latchfor locking the by said same, and a shiftableelementicarried latchfor controlling said pawl.,

ofa

.11. In a lock-for the discharge door of a hopper car, a latch for/locking said door,

meansforlocklng said latch, saidmeans contprising a pawl, andja toothed'element engageable thereby, and a member adapted to hold said pawlin engagement with said element,

'said member being provided with camming means forefiectingdisengageinent of said" pawl from said element;

' 12; In a lock'for' the discharge idoor ofa hoppercar, a latch for locking saididoor, a pawl pivotally carried by said latch and adaptedto lock the same, and a pawl controllingvmember:monntedbnsaid latch co.-

axially-with said pawl. v v

13. Ina locktfor-the discharge door of a hopper car, a latch for .locking'said door, a pawl; pivotally carried by'said latch, an element engageable 'by saidqpawl for locking .said latoh,said pawl being'turnable about its pivot into proper engagingrelation with said j element,'and means coaxial-with said pawl for shifting the latter into engagementiwith said element after; said engaging relation has been established. a r

14. In alock for thedischarge door of a hopper car, a latch for locking the door, a

pawl carried by said latch, an element en- 'g'ageableby said pawl for locking said fla'tch,

said pawl being shiftableon said latch into i proper engaging relation with said element,

and a member cooperating, with said pawl for shiftingthelatter intoe'ngagement with said element after said relation has been established,- a to V 15.'In a lock for thejdischarge door of a hopper car, a latch for-locking the'door, a

p'awl ca'rried by saidflatch, an element engageable by said pawl for'locking said latch,

said pawlbeing shiftable onsaid latch into proper engaging relation with said element, and a member Inountedfon said latch and cooperating with said pawl :for shiftingthe latter into engagement with said element after said; relation has been established.

16. Means for facilitating the opening of a V discharge door on a hopper car, said means i comprising an extension 'onthe spreader sociated with saiddoor, and a projection onthe hopper adja'centto said extension and providing a fnlcrum for abar for cooperation withsaid extension to force the door out of closed position, said projectionbeing so di sposed With respect to said extension that a horizontal plane passing through saidextension also passes through said projection.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 7th clay of May,

JAMES A. SHAFER. 

